Cassi Van Den Dungen
Encyclopedia
Cassi Van Den Dungen is an Australian model, best known as the runner-up in the fifth cycle
of Australia's Next Top Model
.
She is a self-proclaimed bogan
. While filming Australia's Next Top Model
, Van Den Dungen revealed that she was engaged to a 25 year old bricklayer, Brad Saul, and had been living with him for a few months.
in 2009. She immediately caused controversy on the show and became the centre of media attention. In spite of all the spotlight, Van Den Dungen started the show very strong, received the best photo for the first week (but she was called second, because fellow contestant Franky received immunity from the elimination), second best photo for the second week, and the third best photo of the third week.
Her string of strong photos eventually stopped in the fourth week, when she was producing her worst photograph so far, and landed her in a bottom-three appearance with fellow contestant Mikarla and Eloise, but Van Den Dungen's very strong portfolio keeps her safe. She eventually boasted up again in the fifth week, producing one of the best photo of the week. In the sixth week, however, Van Den Dungen again produced uninspiring photo, but nevertheless keeps her away from bottom two although she was placed at the bottom three.
Van Den Dungen again stepped up in the seventh and eighth week, she was called third for both of the week. In the ninth week, however, even though her photo received universal critique, her strong performance at their international destination, London
, keeps her safe at the second place. At the final three, Van Den Dungen produced one of the best photo ever from the show, but she was criticized for her performance at the Fashion Week, and eventually landed her at the bottom two with fellow contestant Clare Venema, while Tahnee Atkinson
safely progress to the final. Although Venema did a very good job at the Fashion Week, Van Den Dungen's hard work and great portfolio gets the judges' choice and Venema was eliminated, while Van Den Dungen joining Atkinson at the final.
In the live finale of the show, Van Den Dungen received the majority of votes from Alex Perry
, Claudia Navone, Russell James
and Priscilla Leighton-Clarke. Although Van Den Dungen's runway walk had improved and she stated that she was now "thinking of the bigger picture", the voting public awarded Tahnee Atkinson
the title of "Australia's Next Top Model
".
, it was confirmed that Elite Model Management
in New York City
and Priscilla's Model Management in Australia offered modelling contracts and immediate representation to Van Den Dungen. However, it was reported on 13 July 2009 that Van Den Dungen turned down a prestigious contract with New York model management company, Elite Model Management
as well as Sydney agent Priscilla Leighton Clarke to stay in Sunbury with her boyfriend, Brad Saul.
Her father, Jack Van Den Dungen, told reporters that a contract with Elite Model Management
, said to be worth $2 million, is sitting on his fax machine waiting to be signed by his daughter.
She is now signed with Work Agency in Sydney. In 2010, Cassi was in agreement to sign with IMG
Paris
and walk for designers at Paris Fashion Week
in March 2010.
Since being back in Australia, Cassi became the face of Portmans shot by Vogue photographer Nicole Bentley and has shot three editorials for Cleo
magazine, Madison with photographer Carlotta Moye and one with Oyster magazine with photographer Liz Ham. In Autumn 2010, Cassi walked at L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival for Akira, Alice McCall
, Alistair Trung, Arabella Ramsay, Camilla & Marc, Daniela Orlando, Fleur Wood, House of Baulch, Kylie Hawkes, Lucette, Magdalena Velevska, Michael Angel, Obus, Sass & Bide, Scanlon and Theodore, Tina Kalivas, Toni Maticevski
and Yeojin Bae
. She also walked at Australian Fashion Week
for Ellery
, Dion Lee, Romance Was Born and Manning Cartell. Soon after, she modelled for Nneka's 'Concrete Jungle' Winter 2010 collection. In June 2010, was the face of Myer
as one of the young faces for their upcoming spring/summer campaign. In October 2010, she appeared in an editorial for issue #36 of Russh magazine and was featured in Ellery
’s Spring/Summer 2010/2011 campaign, Horreurscope.
Australia's Next Top Model, Cycle 5
The Fifth Cycle of Australia's Next Top Model was an Australian reality television program which was broadcast on the Australian subscription television channel, FOX8. The cycle premiered on 28 April 2009. Auditions were held during October and November 2008 across Australia...
of Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series, based on a franchise that was created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model...
.
Early life
Van Den Dungen grew up in the town of Sunbury, in Victoria, Australia. In press interviews, she has described Sunbury as a "ghetto", which caused controversy and frustration among Sunbury residents and the City Council Mayor, Jack Ogilvie, causing him to call her a "very immature, silly little girl".She is a self-proclaimed bogan
Bogan
The term bogan is Australian slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for an individual who is recognised to be from a lower class background or someone whose limited education, speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplifies such a background....
. While filming Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series, based on a franchise that was created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model...
, Van Den Dungen revealed that she was engaged to a 25 year old bricklayer, Brad Saul, and had been living with him for a few months.
Australia's Next Top Model
Van Den Dungen gained a spot as one of the thirteen finalists of the fifth cycle of Australia's Next Top ModelAustralia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series, based on a franchise that was created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model...
in 2009. She immediately caused controversy on the show and became the centre of media attention. In spite of all the spotlight, Van Den Dungen started the show very strong, received the best photo for the first week (but she was called second, because fellow contestant Franky received immunity from the elimination), second best photo for the second week, and the third best photo of the third week.
Her string of strong photos eventually stopped in the fourth week, when she was producing her worst photograph so far, and landed her in a bottom-three appearance with fellow contestant Mikarla and Eloise, but Van Den Dungen's very strong portfolio keeps her safe. She eventually boasted up again in the fifth week, producing one of the best photo of the week. In the sixth week, however, Van Den Dungen again produced uninspiring photo, but nevertheless keeps her away from bottom two although she was placed at the bottom three.
Van Den Dungen again stepped up in the seventh and eighth week, she was called third for both of the week. In the ninth week, however, even though her photo received universal critique, her strong performance at their international destination, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, keeps her safe at the second place. At the final three, Van Den Dungen produced one of the best photo ever from the show, but she was criticized for her performance at the Fashion Week, and eventually landed her at the bottom two with fellow contestant Clare Venema, while Tahnee Atkinson
Tahnee Atkinson
Tahnee Atkinson is an Australian model, best known for winning fifth cycle of Australia's Next Top Model.-Australia's Next Top Model:...
safely progress to the final. Although Venema did a very good job at the Fashion Week, Van Den Dungen's hard work and great portfolio gets the judges' choice and Venema was eliminated, while Van Den Dungen joining Atkinson at the final.
In the live finale of the show, Van Den Dungen received the majority of votes from Alex Perry
Alex Perry
Alex Perry is an Australian fashion designer, particularly noted for his designs in womenswear. After graduating from East Sydney Technical College in 1984, Perry worked as a model agent representing Australian models for international modelling agencies. In 1992 Perry opened his first atelier...
, Claudia Navone, Russell James
Russell James
Russell James is a fashion, celebrity and beauty photographer. He is not to be confused with Russell James, British writer.-Photography:...
and Priscilla Leighton-Clarke. Although Van Den Dungen's runway walk had improved and she stated that she was now "thinking of the bigger picture", the voting public awarded Tahnee Atkinson
Tahnee Atkinson
Tahnee Atkinson is an Australian model, best known for winning fifth cycle of Australia's Next Top Model.-Australia's Next Top Model:...
the title of "Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series, based on a franchise that was created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model...
".
Career
On 8 July, only one day after the finale of Australia's Next Top ModelAustralia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series, based on a franchise that was created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model...
, it was confirmed that Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management is a large modeling agency based in New York and Paris. It is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A.-History:Founded in France in 1972 by John Casablancas and Alain Kittler, it was rebought in 1990 by Nicholas Farrae. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Priscilla's Model Management in Australia offered modelling contracts and immediate representation to Van Den Dungen. However, it was reported on 13 July 2009 that Van Den Dungen turned down a prestigious contract with New York model management company, Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management is a large modeling agency based in New York and Paris. It is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A.-History:Founded in France in 1972 by John Casablancas and Alain Kittler, it was rebought in 1990 by Nicholas Farrae. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model...
as well as Sydney agent Priscilla Leighton Clarke to stay in Sunbury with her boyfriend, Brad Saul.
Her father, Jack Van Den Dungen, told reporters that a contract with Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management is a large modeling agency based in New York and Paris. It is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A.-History:Founded in France in 1972 by John Casablancas and Alain Kittler, it was rebought in 1990 by Nicholas Farrae. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model...
, said to be worth $2 million, is sitting on his fax machine waiting to be signed by his daughter.
She is now signed with Work Agency in Sydney. In 2010, Cassi was in agreement to sign with IMG
IMG Models
IMG Models is one of the major international modeling agencies, currently representing only female models. Its mother office is in New York City, with branches in Paris, London, Milan and Hong Kong. It is a division of New York, NY-based IMG...
Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and walk for designers at Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week is a famous fashion week held semi-annually in Paris, France with Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter events held each year. Dates are determined by the French Fashion Federation...
in March 2010.
Since being back in Australia, Cassi became the face of Portmans shot by Vogue photographer Nicole Bentley and has shot three editorials for Cleo
Cleo (magazine)
CLEO is an Australian, New Zealand, South African, Malaysian, Singaporean, Thailand and Indonesian women's magazine.Aimed at an older audience than the teenage-focused Dolly, the magazine is known for its CLEO Bachelor of the Year award....
magazine, Madison with photographer Carlotta Moye and one with Oyster magazine with photographer Liz Ham. In Autumn 2010, Cassi walked at L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival for Akira, Alice McCall
Alice McCall
Alice McCall is a London-born Australian fashion designer who got her start as a successful stylist in the London fashion scene. As a stylist, she worked with a variety of celebrity and corporate clients including Kelis, Blondie and Marianne Faithful, as well as styling international advertising...
, Alistair Trung, Arabella Ramsay, Camilla & Marc, Daniela Orlando, Fleur Wood, House of Baulch, Kylie Hawkes, Lucette, Magdalena Velevska, Michael Angel, Obus, Sass & Bide, Scanlon and Theodore, Tina Kalivas, Toni Maticevski
Toni Maticevski
Toni Matičevski is a Melbourne-based fashion designer.Matičevski's parents migrated from Macedonia. He grew up in Seddon, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne with a sizable Macedonian community....
and Yeojin Bae
Yeojin Bae
Yeojin Bae is a Korean-born Australian women's wear fashion designer.At age 15, she was the youngest student attending the Melbourne Whitehouse Institute of Design...
. She also walked at Australian Fashion Week
Australian Fashion Week
Australian Fashion Week is an annual fashion industry event showcasing the latest seasonal collections from Australian and Asia Pacific Designers...
for Ellery
Ellery
Ellery may refer to:In places:* Ellery, New York, a US town* Ellery, Illinois, a US townOther:* Ellery , a pop group from Cincinnati, USAPeople with the surname Ellery:* Ellery People with the given name Ellery:...
, Dion Lee, Romance Was Born and Manning Cartell. Soon after, she modelled for Nneka's 'Concrete Jungle' Winter 2010 collection. In June 2010, was the face of Myer
Myer
Myer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and...
as one of the young faces for their upcoming spring/summer campaign. In October 2010, she appeared in an editorial for issue #36 of Russh magazine and was featured in Ellery
Ellery
Ellery may refer to:In places:* Ellery, New York, a US town* Ellery, Illinois, a US townOther:* Ellery , a pop group from Cincinnati, USAPeople with the surname Ellery:* Ellery People with the given name Ellery:...
’s Spring/Summer 2010/2011 campaign, Horreurscope.